A couple convicted of killing their baby daughter had their names cleared by the Court of Appeal this afternoon.

Maatkari Tamerry, 39, and her husband Dr. Amenemhet Waset Amen-Ra Tamerry, 51, walked hand in hand to freedom after the appeal justices ruled they should not face a re-trial.

The couple was found guilty in 2004 of manslaughter, after prosecutors told a jury that ten-month-old A-Maya died of severe malnutrition and dehydration due to neglect at their hands.

Mrs. Tamerry, from Somerset, had already completed a one-year prison sentence before her conviction was quashed yesterday. Her husband, a former dentist, was serving a five year sentence – but was immediately released from custody after the ruling yesterday.

The defence lawyer during the trial, Mark Pettingill, came under fire from British QCs William Taylor and Nigel Rumfitt during the course of the appeal, with them alleging he failed to defend the couple properly.

The appeal justices– President Justice Edward Zacca, and Justices Sir Murray Stuart-Smith and Gerald Nazareth – said they would give the reasons for their ruling at a later date.

See tomorrow's Royal Gazette for full story and reaction